Three of the recently closed schools of Pocono Mountain School District officially are up for sale, two of them at seemingly discounted prices.

The former Coolbaugh Learning Center and the former Barrett High School are both listed for $399,000, which a few years ago was not an uncommon price to see for a house in those communities.

However, district officials said a number of factors led to what would appear to be low prices for large schools.

"The listing price for each property is based on the age of the buildings, size of the buildings and included acreage of the properties, and the significant renovations needed on each building," said district spokeswoman Wendy Frable.

The district last week approved listing contracts with Michael Baxter Associates to sell the two former schools, along with the former Coolbaugh Elementary Center.

That school's listing price — $2.95 million — is in stark contrast to the other two schools.

There's good reason for that, according to listing agent Michael Baxter Jr. The two cheaper buildings have "extensive" renovations necessary that would far out-distance the cost of the building.

The dollar amount of renovations necessary, he said, would be impossible to determine because it would be different for any project.

The two less expensive schools also are both zoned residential, which severely limits the use of the buildings, he said. They would have to be turned into apartments or possibly senior living centers.

He said there already has been "quite a bit of interest" in those scenarios.

"The trick is to get the financing from the bank, because it would be a very expensive project," Baxter said.

Coolbaugh Elementary Center has the advantage of being newer, built in 1990. The Barrett school (1926) and Coolbaugh Learning Center (1929) are much older.

The property of the elementary center also has the advantage of being the largest acreage of the three at 46 acres and being zoned commercial.

"So there is some possibility for development on that property," Baxter said. "It's just harder on the others. All of that has to be taken into account."

The district could have two more schools hitting the market. There is a proposal on the table to close the Pocono and Barrett elementary centers at the end of this school year.

Queries about the buildings should be directed to Michael Baxter Associates at 570-620-1900.